DIY advent calendar ideas for Xmas – no chocolate required!

Paper bags (or envelopes)

A great option if you want super easy. Grab some paper bags or envelopes from a craft shop. Get the kids to decorate the front of each bag, add a number and either hang them from string with mini pegs (also available from craft shops) or put them in a basket. Pop in a treat for each day (see below for ideas) or a note revealing an activity that you will be doing with your kids that day.  

If you are handy with a sewing machine and have the time, you could also make little fabric bags to hold your advent countdown treats – or if you keep gift bags to reuse, give them another outing!

Gift tags

This one is also super simple. Buy 24 plain gift tags and add a number to each. On the other side of the tag, write what the treat or activity for that day will be. Then hang them on the tree (if you’re the Christmas enthusiast who has it up and decorated on December 1st) or hang them from string.  

Shoe organiser

Use a 24-pocket hanging shoe organiser and repurpose into a speedy advent calendar. Add a number to each pocket and add a treat for each day. This one is good if you want to add larger advent treats such as books or craft items.  

Ideas for non-chocolate treats for all ages:

Art supplies – pens, crayons, stickers, stamps etc.  

Beads – pretty beads and twine for jewellery making

A Christmas joke – add funny jokes (or ‘Dad’ jokes!) on their own each day or include them with other gifts.

Brightly coloured chalk for some driveway art.

Hair accessories – a scrunchy, hair band or clips.  

Toy cars 

Lego characters

Bubbles

You could also add an activity to do that day with your kids such as:

Make pizza for dinner

Read a book together

Watch a Christmas movie

Do some baking

Go to the park

Play memory games

Make a Christmas playlist (great for day one!)

And if your kids are at that difficult age, here are some fun activities to do with Tweens!  

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